Submitted by jaleraas on
in
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As an answer to the weakness question, I am debating if I should use "I have let my external network slip. I had to step back from attending conferences and participating in our state association." Pros: it is true. Con: I think it might give the impression that I am looking to increase my network in order to get a job (meaning I won't be staying at the job I am interviewing for long after I have accepted the position). Would this be a good idea or are the pitfalls too steep to use it as an aswer to this critical interview question?
As a follow-up to the statement, I would say that I was pursuing a doctorate degree and this lead me to withdrawl from state organizations, which I had been a part of up until that point. I felt I needed to focus my energy on my degree. My external network is important to me because it is a resource I can go to when I have a question and a source for inspiration. I am now working to restore and expand this network by contacting at least one new or former colleauge a week, with a goal of 50 colleagues by the end of the year.
Sound good?
Yep.
I like the follow-up because it applies to landing the current job - resources to make their company the best. As long as you can get it all out, it should be fine. (Recruiters can sometimes hijack an answer with an inserted comment that takes things a little off-track from where you intended to go.) If it doesn't all come out, tactfully circle back to the remaining points of the follow-up so it's clear how this work on your weakness will benefit the employer.
Thanks!
I appreciate the response! I am putting together a bulleted outline and trying to cover all the benefits of having a personal network and then, of course, developing an implementation plan based on the MT model for network building. Again, thanks for quelling some of my concerns and highlighting other issues of which I will need to be aware.